Reach Out

"I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. If you fucking like something, like it. That’s what’s wrong with our generation: that residual punk rock guilt, like, “You’re not supposed to like that. That’s not fucking cool.” Don’t fucking think it’s not cool to like Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” It is cool to like Britney Spears’ “Toxic”! Why the fuck not? Fuck you! That’s who I am, goddamn it! That whole guilty pleasure thing is full of fucking shit." -Dave Grohl

"Accept the risk of vulnerability.  Do not let fear paralyze your life. Wanting, reaching out and letting yourself hope makes you vulnerable. At least by putting yourself on the line, you have the chance of getting what you want, as opposed to hurting with no chance of getting what you want. Not to venture is to lose yourself." -Dr. Phil

Watching my kids play, it's clear that the older we are in life, the more guarded we are in relationships.  When my kids enjoy someone's company, they say so.   Inviting a friend over again and again to play- never worried about if they will come off as overly eager.   They take such delight in unplanned, unfettered time spent running around the school yard together or playing make believe in the backyard.  They don't seem to mind much if their friends are older or younger, taller or shorter, boys or girls, or even if they speak the same language.  None of that gets in the way of just being together with other kids.

When's the last time you said to someone, "Hey, I like you.  I want to be your friend"?  I would guess it's been since childhood.  And yet, there is no better way to reach out to someone.  If you like someone, say so.  If you want to spend more time with someone, invite them into your life whether it's messy or tightly controlled, wildly complicated or extremely boring.   Even if it's painfully awkward or deeply embarrassing- whatever you do, REACH OUT.